"Examine Yourselves"

Examine Yourselves

(2 Cor. 13:5-10)

Introduction:

A.  It’s coming on the end of the school year finals.  I know how excited my kids get over tests.  Maybe excited is the wrong word, but tests are coming.  I never really was an academician.  I knew I should study for a test, prepare for it, and hope the things I studied were on the test.  I know my mom felt I should have applied myself better.  But I really had things I would rather do than prepare for a test.  The only test I have now normally include a doctor.  But it is the spiritual doctor’s test about which we need to be concerned.

B.  There were some people put to the test throughout the Old and New Testament.  Abraham was tested when God told him to take his son, whom he loved, and sacrifice him on a mountain.  Without knowing it, Job was tested as Satan worked his evil in order to get this man to curse God.  When Jesus was about to feed the 5000, the Bible said that Jesus tested Phillip he even though Jesus knew what he was going to do.

C.  Listen to some Psalms about God’s testing.

Ps 17:1  Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,

though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

Ps 26:1-2   Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.  Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.

Ps 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

D.  But the Bible also teaches about self testing.

1 Corinthians 11:28-29 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Galatians 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

E.  Spiritual examination by God or self is important.  And this passage calls upon us to do some self examination.

I.  Are You A Christian?

A.  The first aspect of our spiritual examination is based upon the opening question by Paul.  Paul asked them to do some self examination to see if they are “in Christ.”  Let me rephrase that and ask the question, “Are you a Christian?”

B.  Some people ask the question, can you know you are saved?  Paul and John seem to start with the assumption, you can know, or at least you can be as certain as humanly possible.  Some people believe in once-saved-always-saved while others believe in never-really-sure-you’re-saved.  I think there needs to be a third option.  I would call it the I-am-secure-Christian.  This is the Christian who does not take grace for granted nor does he believe in a works/merit salvation and relationship.

C.  When I ask the question, “Are you saved?”  I get answers back like:  I don’t know.  I hope so.  It depends on the day.  I think so.  I won’t really know until judgment day. And I don’t feel saved.  John writes in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know hat you have eternal life.”  My knowledge of salvation is my belief that I am secure in Christ.  My security is based upon God’s faithfulness and grace, not upon my perfection.  My security is based upon testing myself to see if I am in the faith.

D.  So what is that test?  Let’s start first by seeing if I am in the faith.  Being “in the faith” does more than just being a believer in Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that on the Day of Judgment there will be people who say, “Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?”  I can believe and still be lost.  Being “in the faith” is more than just “doing good works.”  Cornelius was a devout man, prayed daily, gave liberally and believed in God – but according to an angel of God, Cornelius was not saved for he needed to send men to Joppa to get a man named Simon who is called Peter and “he will tell you what you need to do.”  Being “in the faith” is more than just “being baptized.”  When Paul arrived in Ephesus he found men who were baptized, but their baptism was in the teachings of John the Baptist, not in the name of Jesus Christ.  But the baptism was not the only aspect.  These people had not received the Holy Spirit.  Baptism is not a work of man, but an act of regeneration through the Holy Spirit.

E.  Being “in the faith” is when our faith is connected to God’s grace.  When that happens our belief in Christ will compel us to die to self, repent of our sins, being washed in the waters of baptism in order to receive the forgiveness of our sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  When we are willing to die, God is willing to resurrect us, to cause us to be “born again” in Him through the power of the Spirit.  That is what it means to be “in the faith.”  Take the test, examine the scriptures and examine your heart.  You know if you are responding to God’s grace in faith or if you are simply doing acts to please others.  I can’t do this for you.  Paul says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”

F.  When you pass that test, let me tell you what is so great.  From that moment on you are never alone.  The day the Spirit of God moves into you, Christ dwells in you and God becomes your Father.  You are not alone as a Christian.

II.  The Evidence Demands A Verdict

A.  But being “in the faith” is also evidenced for others to see.  Paul says, “I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.”  They know that by looking at the actions of Paul and those with him.  The evidence demands a verdict.

B.  If the Spirit of God is living in me, then people should be able to see the fruit of the Spirit in my life.  The kids sing the song, but are we living it out?  Am I keeping in step with the Spirit?  What are some evidences that I my faith is real and authentic?

C.  1 John 4:20-21.  Do I love my brother?  Do you know how much this passage is debated?  Does that mean that I have to like him?  How close do we have to be; best friends?  The truth is we want to love our brother just enough to satisfy God and that is wrong.  I want to love my brother so much that he knows he is loved and never has to question it.  But let’s take my Christian faith farther.

D.  Matt. 5:43-48.  Do I love my enemy?  Well, I guess part of that answer is found in how much I pray for them.  Paul reminds the Romans of Prov. 25:21-22 where we are told to feed our enemy and do good to them.  How much good have done for people I know don’t like me?  What about forgiveness?  Jesus taught us to pray that God should forgive us our debts as (in the same manner) we forgive those indebted to us.  Is that evidence that demands a verdict?

Conclusion:

A.  Examine yourself.  Look inside and make a judgment call on your own spiritual life to see if you are in the faith.  Have you given your life over go Him who has the power to both save and destroy?  In your faith have you accepted his grace by repenting of your sins and being immersed in water to rise up a new creation?  I hope you can say “Yes, I have passed the test of being in the faith.”

B.  If you have, then church I ask us to continue that examination to see if our faith that brought us into salvation is a living faith, filled with obedience to God.  Do we love each other, love our enemies and live out forgiveness?  These are simply marks of the Spirit’s work within us.

C.  We have finished a study of 1 and 2 Corinthians.  It has taken us about 16 month to do this study.  I believe the elders asked for this study because these books challenge people.  We have been challenged to look inside and see if we have past the test.  If we can be of help to you in your faith and living in the Spirit, then come as we stand and sing.